To the Government, Regarding Katrina

By Devon R., Goshen, CT

Image Credit: Lindsay S., Billings, MT

Scream is what I want to do,“These people died and where were you?”If the Coast Guard too had taken your lead,Hundreds more would have been in need.You claimed that you were unaware That 5,000 plus had just died there. But, possible? I think it not Your pompous selves were never caught With want of saving your own people, Why not just leave it to the steeple? They really could have used the aid,And not the full armed barricade.People watched their families dieBecause food and water were in short supply.Then you came, what? Five days late?And you thought they would appreciateThe fact that you stranded them all there Because Condi seeing “Spamalot” was a higher care? And, of course, Cheney had to fishObviously, each drowning victim’s last wish.Sean Penn helped, because you “couldn’t”Or, maybe it was because you wouldn’t.Dead bodies, down the streets they floated,Washed up on land, so pale and bloated.You claimed you had searched for the deadThat’s what your marks on houses read.But, half those houses were un-enteredStagnant waters, liquid grave centered.And five months later, these houses sitYou think they’re okay? You’re full of s--t. I walked down streets, so devastated And the government, I truly hated. Katrina was in August, it was July And I could only wonder, why?Eleven months and nothing’s done How can you say your people are number one? You should all be so full of shame, And when somebody says the name“Katrina” you should think back on your life,And I hope it cuts deep like a knifeTo think of all those passed awayBecause of your bad engineering and delay.You waste your money on Iraq,And, for your sake, I wish it backSo the people who did fully trustIn your promises that proved unjustCan get back houses, if nothing moreBecause all those people you lost, you can’t restore

my god, this was incredible. i actually found myself shaking; i got goosebumps reading this. i read it over a few times and it only gets better.
i've never seen a poem with such passion and feeling. i can sense your sincere anger and that this is an issue close to your heart. you really let us take a walk inside your mind and your heart and i can only thank you so much. this was beautiful; keep writing. please.

omg, this is exactly how i felt. looking at the wreckage around me caused by hurricane katrina makes me sick to my core and my blood boil in my veins. how could the government just turn a blind eye to us? They didn't even CARE! not one, single bit.